120 years of Marist presence in southern Brazil
“The seeds sown in these lands since 1900 continue to germinate, flourish and bear much fruit,” said Brother Inacio Nestor Etges, Provincial of Brazil Sul-AmazĂ´nia, as he celebrated 120 years of Marist presence in southern Brazil.
“On a day like today – 2 August – 1900, Brothers Weibert, Jean Dominici and Marie-Berthaire were welcomed with great rejoicing and stayed in these lands of Bom PrincĂpio – RS. They came from the province of Beaucamps in France. It originated here, in Bom PrincĂpio, in the small parish school, under the old tower of this church, the mission grew and spread”, recalled the provincial, in his message during the Eucharist in the Parish Church of Bom PrincĂpio, which was attended by the bishop of the diocese of Montenegro, Don Carlos Gonçalves e Silva, and the local parish priest, Father RogĂ©rio Schlindwein.
Brother Ernesto Sánchez, Superior General of the Marist Institute, and the brothers of the General Council were present virtually from Rome. Also participating in this celebration were the Brothers of the local Marist community, the Brothers Provincial Councillors; the Brothers of the Marist Province of Brazil Sul-Amazônia and other Marist Provinces of Brazil and of the Region of South America. And also, the community of the Parish of Nossa Senhora da Purificação, young people from the Marist Youth Ministry and from the Lighthouse Movement; members of the ChMMF Movement and Marists from very many communities and mission areas.
During his intervention, Brother Inácio described the trajectory of the Marists in the south of Brazil, from the beginning until the present day, when the Marist Province is embraced by the Province of Brazil Sul-Amazônia. And he highlighted, in a special way, the work that the Marists of Champagnat are developing today in this Province:
” Currently, the Marist Province of Brazil Sul-AmazĂ´nia has 24 religious communities; 26 schools in Rio Grande do Sul, Federal District and Mato Grosso, of which 19 are paid and 7 are social, with more than 22 thousand students; nine social units, which serve more than two thousand students; a university, PUCRS, which has more than 16 thousand students in attendance and more than 30 thousand under the EAD (distance education) scheme; the SĂŁo Lucas Hospital and the Instituto do CĂ©rebro do RS, where thousands of people pass through every day for health consultations and treatment; Likewise, the pastoral and missionary work, which is offered in all our places, in a special way, the presence in the Amazon region, the work with the indigenous and riverside peoples, and also the initiatives linked to the Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network (REPAM). We are 112 brothers, more than 10 thousand partners, 420 laypeople from the Champagnat Movement of the Marist Family, 1950 young people from the Marist Youth Ministry and innumerable people and families committed to our work”.